Hair shaping device, especially a steam styling tong

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hair-shaping appliance ( 1 ), in particular steam styling tongs, having a tubular drum ( 3 ) which treats the hair and is provided with through-passages ( 2 ). Projecting out of the drum ( 3 ) is a dosing device ( 26 ), upon the actuation of which liquid passes out of an outlet ( 18 ) of a liquid container ( 19 ) via a liquid-channeling device ( 17 ). Formed in the drum ( 3 ) is an evaporating device ( 13 ) which is supplied with heat by a heating device ( 12 ) and comprises an evaporator surface ( 16 ) which is in thermal contact with the heating device ( 12 ). Liquid which has passed out evaporates on the evaporator surface into steam, which then passes into the steam-distributor chamber ( 91 ) and, there, flows outward via the through-passages ( 2 ). The heating device ( 12 ) is formed in a combustion chamber ( 7 ) of the drum ( 3 ), in which, during the heating operation, flame-free combustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst ( 8 ), of which the combustion gases pass out via outlets ( 2 ) formed in the drum ( 3 ) and/or in the combustion chamber ( 7 ). According to the invention, the combustion chamber ( 7 ) and the steam-distributor chamber ( 91 ) are formed by a common chamber ( 87 ). Means ( 26, 17 ) that which prevent water from penetrating into the common chamber ( 87 ) are also provided. As a result, while reliable combustion is maintained, the design of the hair-shaping appliance is simplified, which results in less expensive production.

[0001] The invention relates to a hair-shaping appliance, in particularsteam styling tongs, having a tubular drum which treats the hair and isprovided with through-passages, having a dosing device, upon theactuation of which liquid passes out of an outlet of a liquid containervia a liquid-channeling device, having an evaporating device which issupplied with heat by a heating device and comprises an evaporatorsurface which is in thermal contact with the heating device and on whichliquid which has passed out evaporates into steam, which then passesinto a steam-distributor chamber (91) and, there, flows outward via thethrough-passages, the heating device being formed in a combustionchamber of the drum, in which, during the heating operation, flame-freecombustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst, of which thecombustion gases pass out via outlets formed in the drum.

[0002] JP-A-11 46839 discloses a gas-operated hair-shaping appliance ofthe type described in the introduction, in the case of which flame-freecombustion of a gas takes place by means of a catalyst for heating upthe heating tubes in a combustion chamber. There is provided asteam-distributor chamber which is supplied with water by a liquidcontainer. The liquid container is provided with an exchange valve, viawhich air flows in when water flows out of the liquid container. Whennot in use, the pressure in the liquid container can increase, forexample, on account of heating. This may result in water passing, viathe liquid-channeling device, into the steam chamber and, from there,then flowing into the steam-distributor chamber, where it ultimatelypasses outward via the through-passages. During the heating-up operationof the hair-shaping appliance, this may result in the increasedformation of steam and thus in a user sustaining burns if he/she picksup the appliance.

[0003] Outlets connected to the combustion chamber and through-passagesconnected to the steam-distributor chamber are formed in the drum. Thismay result in differing temperatures at various locations, since thetemperature at the outlets is usually higher than the temperature at thethrough-passages. Furthermore, this hair-shaping appliance is expensiveand complex to construct as a result of the combustion chamber beingseparated from the steam-distributor chamber.

[0004] The object of the invention is to develop a gas-operatedhair-shaping appliance, in particular steam styling tongs, according tothe preamble of patent claim 1 such that the above disadvantages areavoided and, at the same time, the construction and the assembly of thehair-shaping appliance are simplified and the production costs arereduced. The invention is also intended to achieve uniform and/or freelyselectable steam distribution over the circumference of the drum.

[0005] This object is achieved by the characterizing features of patentclaim 1. By virtue of the invention, the steam can mix with thecombustion gases coming from the catalyst to better effect in now justone common chamber and can thus heat up more uniformly. The steam andcombustion gases pass out through commonly used through-passages, whichmay be formed uniformly around the drum. This results in a uniform hotstream of steam around the drum. In this way, the drum or the heatingtube is also heated up better and more uniformly, because the commonchamber can bound the drum all the way round from the inside. In orderthat no water passes into the common chamber, suitable means areprovided according to the invention. This is because if water dropletswere to wet the catalyst, then considerable ignition problems wouldarise since a comparativele high level of ignition energy would have tobe applied in order for the water located on the catalyst first of allto be evaporated, before the flame-free combustion process then ignitesthe catalyst. A single collecting chamber for the combustion gases andthe steam simplifies the construction of the hair-shaping appliance to aconsiderable extent and, in addition to the abovementioned advantages,reduces the production costs.

[0006] By virtue of the features of patent claim 2, onlythrough-passages are formed on the drum, these being connected to thecommon chamber. Both the hot combustible gases and the steam pass out,in the form of a mixture, of these through-passages.

[0007] The means according to the features of patent claim 3 preventexcess water from collecting in the evaporating device because, duringthe return stroke of the dosing device, excess water is alwaysautomatically sucked back into the liquid container again. Even when thedosing device is actuated a number of times in quick succession, theseactuations cannot result in the evaporating device overflowing sinceduring the return stroke of the dosing or pumping device, on account ofthe “closed” liquid tank, excess water is always sucked back into thewater tank again via the liquid-channeling device. As a result of theinvention, the appliance remains dry and no water can penetrate into thecatalyst via the common chamber or pass out of the drum. This is becausepenetrating water would impair the functioning of the catalyst or wouldeven prevent it from being ignited, since it would be necessary toevaporate the water in the catalyst first of all. This energy, however,is not present at the start of ignition.

[0008] According to the features of patent claim 4, the dosing devicecomprises, on the one hand, a pressure/suction pump and, on the otherhand, a closed liquid container with only one outlet, which, during thereturn stroke of the dosing or pumping device, also performs thefunction of an inlet for excess water which collects in the evaporatorchamber or still adheres to the liquid-channeling device as an excessdroplet. Of course, it is also conceivable, instead of the liquidcontainer provided, to integrate a further liquid container in theappliance, which is then provided with a separately workingliquid-channeling device which channels excess water back into saidsecond container.

[0009] By virtue of excess liquid flowing back immediately into theliquid container from the evaporating device, the hair-shaping appliancecan be held as desired in a user's hand without liquid passing out ofthe drum via the through-passages. This also results in a particularlyeconomical water-discharging device, that is to say the liquid locatedin the liquid container is fully converted into steam without some ofthe water running out of the appliance unused.

[0010] The features of patent claim 5 are provided in order to improvethe operation of the evaporating device further, and in order for thewater which is discharged by the dosing device during the actuation notto be allowed to escape even when the hair-shaping appliance is in thehorizontal position. The chamber forms a relatively large evaporatingsurface and, at the same time, it retains small water droplets to bettereffect. It is possible here for the chamber to be of plate-like,cup-like or pot-like design.

[0011] The features of patent claim 6 result in an embodiment of aliquid-channeling device which does not expose the wick to anexcessively high temperature. This increases the service life of thewick. It is thus no longer necessary for the wick to be pressed againstthe evaporating surface in order for it to be possible for water to bedischarged in a metered manner. However, it is also, of course,possible, upon actuation of the dosing device, for the wick to come intocontact with the evaporator plate and to be pressed against it slightly.

[0012] The features of patent claim 7 make it possible for the wick totransport both liquid and air in both directions. This arrangementallows straightforward metering of the liquid. It is no longer possiblefor the liquid to run out without the dosing device being actuated.

[0013] The features of patent claim 8 provide a large receiving surfacefor the liquid on the wick, with the result that, even when the liquidcontainer is in the horizontal position, the wick is still supplied withsufficient liquid even when the liquid container is almost empty.

[0014] The features of patent claim 9 render the distance between thefree end of the wick and the evaporator-chamber surface small enough forit to be possible, even in the case of a small droplet forming at thefree end of the wick, for this droplet to come into contact with theevaporator-chamber surface and even to flow out onto the latter, andevaporate there.

[0015] The features of patent claim 10 bring about a particularlystraightforward integration of the dosing device with the liquidcontainer, with the result that, in dependence on the piston stroke, acorrespondingly large or small amount of liquid passes out of theliquid-channeling device. In the case of this arrangement, the pistonhas to be displaced automatically into its starting position again, bymeans of a spring, in order for it to be possible at all for anautomatic suction stroke to be executed.

[0016] The features of patent claim 11 result in a particularlystraightforward embodiment of the dosing device integrated in the liquidcontainer. The elastically deformable wall can easily be actuated fordischarging liquid; however, it also easily moves back automaticallyinto its original shape again, on account of its elastic expandability,in order for it to be possible for the suction stroke to be executedwithout a user's intervention. The elastically deformable wall may befastened on the liquid container, for example, by injection molding,screw connection, adhesive bonding or in some other manner, but it mayalso be designed as a molding with the liquid container, although inthis case the wall thicknesses should be coordinated with one anothersuch that, upon actuation of the deformable wall, the liquid containeritself hardly deforms.

[0017] In order that the dosing device can discharge considerablequantities of liquid, it is advantageous if the deformable wall is ofoutwardly curved design. The elastically deformable material and thewall thickness of the deformable wall have to be selected such that, onthe one hand, these can easily be moved by hand and, on the other hand,they produce a sufficient suction-stroke action in the chamber of theliquid container, with the result that excess water which may be presentin the evaporating chamber or on the wick can be sucked back into theliquid container sufficiently quickly via the liquid-channeling device.

[0018] The features of patent claim 12 are provided in order to ensurethat water only flows into the evaporating chamber when theliquid-channeling device butts against the base of the evaporatingchamber or, better, terminates a short distance in front of saidchamber. The rigidity of the elastically deformable wall is thusselected to be high enough for the liquid container, initially withoutany marked elastic deformation of the wall, to be displaced counter tothe force of the compression spring until the wick has reached itsliquid-discharging position in the evaporating chamber. This ensuresthat even excess liquid which may occur during the return stroke can bechanneled back into the liquid container via the wick. For easydisplacement of the liquid container, the latter is fastened in anon-displaceable manner in the drum in an insulating sleeve, which isfastened in a stationary manner in the drum and—in order to avoidthermal overloading of the liquid container—is preferably produced fromplastic.

[0019] In order for it to be possible for the deformable wall to beexchanged if it is worn, it may be connected to the liquid container bymeans of a thread, of a clip device or by means of some other releasableconnection (claim 13).

[0020] The features of patent claim 14 are provided in order for it tobe possible for the liquid container to be easily removed from thehair-shaping appliance in order to be filled with a liquid, preferablywater or water enriched with fragrances, hair-treating substances orother materials. A locking device designed in accordance with theprinciple of a bayonet closure allows the liquid container to be quicklyinserted and removed and, in the locked position, nevertheless releasesthe liquid container for further displacement in the direction of theevaporating chamber. This takes place, on the one hand, in that at leastone stub projecting radially on the liquid container initially engagesin a recess, when inserted, and is then secured by rotation againstdropping out automatically and, on the other hand, in that the liquidcontainer can be moved back and forth within certain limits in thelongitudinal direction by means of a further recess adjoining the firstrecess. Instead of one stub, of course, it is also possible for two ormore stubs to be formed on the circumference of the liquid container,although in this case it is also necessary to introduce into the sleevea corresponding number of recesses, which then cooperate with therespectively associated stub. This improves the guidance of the liquidcontainer.

[0021] The features of patent claim 15 ensure that it is only when theliquid container has been removed from the hair-shaping appliance thatit can be filled with water, once the closure cap has been opened. Theoperation of removing the liquid container from the hair-shapingappliance, which is necessary for filling the liquid container, avoidsmalfunctioning of, and thus possible damage to, the hair-shapingappliance, because a user is never tempted to hold the entire applianceunder a water source during the filling operation. The forced separationof the liquid container from the hair-shaping appliance facilitateshandling of the filling operation since, in this case, the hair-shapingappliance can be set to one side and the liquid container, on account ofit being smaller than the rest of the hair-shaping appliance, can beheld more easily under a faucet or a container.

[0022] The features of patent claim 16 ensure that, following actuation,the water tank is always automatically moved back into its startingposition again by the force of the compression spring as soon as theactuating force applied to the elastic wall by a user decreases.

[0023] According to the features of patent claim 17, the compressionspring, in addition to serving as a restoring spring for the liquidcontainer, also performs the retaining and sealing function of thesealing ring which butts with sealing action against the liquidcontainer and seals the evaporator chamber in relation to the boreformed in the insulating sleeve and also in relation to the liquidcontainer. The sealing ring here butts with sliding action in the boreof the insulating sleeve, in order also to seal the evaporator chamberwhen the liquid container is displaced.

[0024] The features of patent claim 18 ensure that, if a water dropletis actually slung out of the evaporator chamber, it is stopped on thehot felt ring, evaporates' and only then penetrates the felt ring in theform of steam. This avoids the functioning of the catalyst beingdisturbed.

[0025] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in moredetail hereinbelow and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0026]FIG. 1 shows, on an enlarged scale, a partial longitudinal sectionthrough the front region of a hair-shaping appliance according to theinvention with the common chamber, the dosing device being located inits non-actuated, starting position,

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the insulating sleeve with dosingdevice inserted therein and of the evaporator plate, albeit before thisunit is inserted into the drum and the insulating sleeve is connected ina form-fitting and non-releasable manner to the drum, the unit havingbeen rotated such that it is possible to see the region of the lockinglocation between the liquid container and the sleeve,

[0028]FIG. 3 shows a partial longitudinal section through thehair-shaping appliance according to the invention corresponding to FIG.1, albeit with the dosing device in the actuated position, and

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the insulating sleeve with dosingdevice and evaporator plate according to FIG. 2, albeit with the dosingdevice in the actuated position according to FIG. 3.

[0030] The hair-shaping appliance 1, which is preferably designed in theform of steam styling tongs, comprises, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, atubular drum 3 which treats the hair (not illustrated), is provided withthrough-passages 2 and in the central section of which there is formedan evaporator plate 4 which, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, hasdiametrically opposite crosspieces 5 which run to the right and betweenwhich openings 6 are formed. The crosspieces 5 enclose a combustionchamber 7, in which a tubular catalyst 8 is formed as part of a heatingdevice 12, in which flame-free combustion of a gas (not illustrated)takes place during the heating operation. The gas passes out of anoutlet-valve device (not illustrated in the drawing) of a cartridge (notillustrated in the drawing either) and flows into a mixing/regulatingand valve device (not illustrated either).

[0031] The catalyst 8 essentially comprises a tubular steel mesh with asurface coating which consists of platinum or palladium and on which theflame-free combustion takes place. Projecting at the free end 11 of thecatalyst 8 are thin ignition filaments 9 which are produced from wire,serve for easy ignition during start-up of the catalyst 8 and thusinitiate the heating operation of the heating device 12. Projecting intothe opening 6 from right to left is a control rod 10, which iscontrolled by the temperature and, in dependence on the temperature set,controls the feed of gas to the catalyst 8 via the valve device.

[0032] Opposite the base 76 of the opening 6, an evaporating device 13is arranged within the drum 3, said device comprising, on the one hand,an evaporator chamber 14, designed as a blind bore 15, with anevaporating surface 16. The evaporator chamber 14 is part of theevaporator plate 4 and likewise runs concentrically in relation to thedrum 3. In addition, the evaporating device 13 preferably consists of aof felt or a similar air-permeable and water-permeable wick material,which forms the liquid-channeling device 17 which is fastened in theoutlet 18 of a liquid container 19. The free end 20 of the wick 17projects at the border 21 of the outlet 18. The wick 17 is compressed bythe wall of the bore 22 firmly enough in order to be retained in anon-slip manner in the bore 22 of the outlet 18. The wick 17 has itsother free end 23 projecting into the liquid-accommodating, preferablywater-accommodating, chamber 24 of the liquid container 19 in order toform a sufficiently large receiving surface for the liquid. The liquidcontainer 19 has not been filled with a liquid, so it is not possiblefor this to be designated either.

[0033] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the liquid container 19 comprises atube 25, of which the outer outer end is provided with a dosing device26, while the other end, which is located in the drum 3, is providedwith a sleeve 27 on the base. The outlet 18 with the wick 17 is arrangedin the sleeve 27. The sleeve 27 projects into the tube 25 and isscrew-connected there with sealing action by means of a thread 28 or ofa bayonet closure (not illustrated). The sleeve 27 has a projectingannular collar 30, of which the annular surface 29, which is directedtoward the dosing device 26, has an O-ring 31 supported on it, thisO-ring being pressed against the free end 32 of the tube 25 and thusproducing a sealed connection between the sleeve 27 and the tube 25. TheO-ring 31 is retained in a stationary manner in an annular groove 33,which is formed in the sleeve 27, in order that said O-ring, when theliquid container 19 is filled, does not slide down from the sleeve 27,by virtue of the latter being unscrewed, and go missing, with thesealing of the liquid container 19 being eliminated as a result.

[0034] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, a sealing ring 35, in the bore 36 ofwhich a compression spring 37 is retained in a stationary manner, issupported on the end surface 34 of the annular collar 30, said endsurface being directed toward the evaporator chamber 14. The compressionspring 37 has its other end supported on the base 38 of an insulatingsleeve 39. The sealing ring 35 is produced from elastomeric materialand, by way of its annular sealing surface 50, slides, with sealingaction, along the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39. At the sametime, the other end of the guide sleeve 35 butts with sealing actionagainst the end surface 34, with the result that the annular chamber 53,which is connected to the evaporator chamber 14 via the bore 52, isclosed with sealing action in the direction of the atmosphere. This isbecause an annular space 55 is provided between the outer surface 54 ofthe tube 25 and the bore 51, it being possible for air to pass to thesealing surface 50 of the guide sleeve 35 via said annular space. Theannular space 55 may be of very small dimensions, in order to ensuretilting-free guidance of the liquid container 19 in the insulatingsleeve 39.

[0035] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the insulating sleeve 39 is firmlyconnected to the drum 3 preferably by crimping. During the crimping,material 40 of the drum 3 is pressed plastically into depressions 41formed on the insulating sleeve 39. FIGS. 2 and 4 show the insulatingsleeve 39 before it is inserted into the bore 42 of the drum 3 andcrimped. The insulating sleeve 39 is centered in the bore 42 by way ofits outer surface 43 and strikes against the free end 45 of the drum 3by way of its end surface 44 and, in this way, always has a fixedarrangement in relation to the drum 3. The insulating sleeve 39 enclosespart of the liquid container 19, the sleeve 27 and the evaporatingdevice 13 concentrically.

[0036] Supported, according to FIGS. 1 and 3, on the annular surface 46of the insulating sleeve 39, said annular surface being closer to theevaporator chamber 14, is an annular felt element 47 which, by way ofits other side, butts against an annular surface 48 of the evaporatorplate 4. The annular felt element 47 is clamped in between the twoannular surfaces 46, 48 such that it always maintains this position incaptive fashion. In order for it also to be centered in the radialdirection, an annular collar 49 projecting from the annular surface 48engages on the inner surface. That end of the tube 25 which projects tothe left out of the insulating sleeve 39 is provided with an opening 56,which is closed by a stopper 57. The cylindrical section 58 of thestopper 57 projects into the through-passage bore 59 of the tube 25 andis centered there. The base 60 of the stopper 57 is formed by a flexiblediaphragm, with the result that upon actuation, for example by a user'sfinger applying pressure to it from the outside, said diaphragm deformsin the direction of the chamber 24 such that the chamber 24 is thusreduced in size and liquid is delivered into the evaporator chamber 14via the wick 17.

[0037] An annular collar 61 is formed on the outer surface of thetransition from the cylindrical section 58 to the base 60 and is pressedwith sealing action, by a retaining ring 62, into abutment against theend surface 63 formed at the free end of the tube 25. The retaining ring62 itself is firmly connected to the tube 25 via retaining noses 64,which engage resiliently in latching holes 65 formed on the outersurface of the tube 25. This connection constitutes a type of clippingor snap-in device, in the case of which the annular collar 61 iselastically deformed until the retaining noses 64 spring resilientlyinto the latching holes 65 and thus, in the manner of a barb, are nolonger capable of sliding out of the latching holes 65. The opening 56of the tube 25 is closed with sealing action in this way. The diaphragm60 and the cylindrical section 58 of the stopper 57 are formedintegrally from an elastic polymer material. The diaphragm 60 forms thepressure/suction pump and/or the dosing device 26 for the liquidcontainer 19.

[0038] As can also be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, a clamp 67, which isgenerally customary in the case of such hair-shaping appliances 1, buttsagainst the outer lateral surface 66 in the top region, it beingpossible for said clamp to be pivoted upward, in arrow direction Y, byhand on the right-hand side, about a point of rotation not illustratedin the drawing, in order for it to be possible for hair (notillustrated) to be wound around the outer lateral surface 66 of the drum3, said hair then being clamped in between the outer lateral surface 66and the clamp 67 by the downwardly moving clamp 67. The clamp 67 is ofdouble-walled design and, at its free end, is closed in the forwarddirection by a stopper 71 engaging in the cavity 68 of the two walls 69,70. The stopper 71 is likewise firmly connected to the walls 69, 70 by acrimping device 72. The clamp 67 runs concentrically in relation to theouter lateral surface 66 of the drum 3, as seen in cross section, andthus butts against the same, more or less flush against the outerlateral surface 66, if there is no hair positioned in the gap 73. Thewidth of the gap 73 is at its smallest in this position.

[0039]FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate the dosing device 26 with the liquidcontainer 19, with the insulating sleeve 39 and with the evaporatorplate 4 as an installation part which has been removed from the drum 3,in order for it to be possible to show to better effect the bayonetclosure 74 between the liquid container 19 and the insulating sleeve 39.Formed on the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39, in the frontleft-hand section according to FIGS. 1 to 4, are diametrically oppositeguide or insertion grooves 75 (these are only illustrated by dashedlines in FIGS. 2 and 4) in which, when the liquid container 19 isinserted into the insulating sleeve 39, likewise diametrically oppositestubs 77, which project on the outer surface 54 of the tube 25, engageuntil, following further displacement of the liquid container 19according to FIGS. 1 to 4 to the right, these stubs 77 engage in arecess 78 formed on the insulating sleeve.

[0040] Upon further displacement in the direction X, the stub strikesagainst a ramp 79 of the recess 78 and, since the insulating sleeve 39is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner in the drum 3, the tube 25,and thus the entire liquid container 19, is rotated in the direction ofrotation U, which runs in the clockwise direction. Upon release, theliquid container 19, with the stub 77, is moved longitudinally parallelto the center axis, counter to the displacement direction X, withoutrotating by the force of the compression spring 37 until the stub 77strikes against a stop surface 81 of the recess 78, which can be seenfrom FIG. 2. In this case, the stub 77 engages behind a blockingprotuberance 82, which is formed on the stop surface 81 and prevents theliquid container 19, for example on account of vibrations acting on it,from being able to rotate automatically counter to the direction ofrotation U, in which case the stub 77, in turn, could reach the guidegroove 75 and thus drop out of the insulating sleeve 39. The compressionspring 37 thus always presses the liquid container 19, and thus the stub77, with prestressing against the stop surface 81.

[0041] According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the ramp 79 is adjoined by an endsurface 83 which runs parallel to the center axis 80 and, with theboundary surface 84 located opposite the ramp 79 and the end surface 83,forms a gap 85 in the recess 78, in which, upon axial displacement ofthe liquid container 19 in the direction X, the stub 77 can engage untilit strikes against the stop surface 86 and, from there on, no furtherdisplacement of the liquid container 19 is possible, as FIG. 4 clearlyshows. In this position, the free end 20 of the wick 17 terminates at asmall distance in front of the evaporator surface 16. The distance isonly a few millimeters. It is also conceivable, however, for the freeend 20 of the wick 17 to strike against the evaporator surface 16 evenin the actuating position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0042] Operation and functioning of the hair-shaping appliance 1according to the invention are as follows:

[0043] 1. Removal of the liquid container 19 from the hair-shapingappliance 1 and filling of said container with a liquid, preferablywater:

[0044] According to FIG. 2, the retaining ring 62 is pressed firmly byhand in the actuating direction X such that the liquid container 19 isdisplaced to the right counter to the force of the compression spring37. The stub 77 lifts off from the stop surface 81 in the process. Atthe same time, the liquid container 19 is rotated in the circumferentialdirection U by hand until the stub 77 strikes against the boundarysurface 86 of the recess 78 and is aligned with the guide groove 75. Onaccount of the prestressed compression spring 37, when the hand isreleased from the retaining ring 62 and/or the diaphragm 60 of theliquid container 19, the latter is displaced counter to the direction Xand the stub 77 slides to the left in the guide groove 75 according toFIG. 2. As soon as the prestressing force of the compression spring 37has been used up, the liquid container 19 can then be removed by handfrom the inner bore 51 of the sleeve 27 and thus from the drum 3. Theremoved liquid container 19 comprises the dosing device 26, the tube 25,the sleeve 27, the O-ring 31 and the wick 17. The compression spring 37remains, with the sealing ring 35, in the inner bore 51 since theright-hand end of the compression spring 37 has been pressed in slightlyin the bore 52 of the sleeve 27. The other end of the compression spring37 is seated in the bore 36 of the sealing ring 35, likewise with asmall amount of prestressing, and thus also secures the sealing ring 35.

[0045] The removed liquid container 19 (not illustrated) can then beopened by the sleeve 27 being unscrewed from the thread 28. In thiscase, the O-ring 31 remains seated firmly in the groove 33 and thuscannot go missing. The same applies to the wick 17, which has beeninserted in the bore 22 likewise under prestressing. This is also shownby the individual ribs 89 projecting in the bore 22. The tube 25 withits dosing device 26 can then be held under a faucet or aliquid-discharging location (not illustrated) and the tube 25 can befilled with a liquid via the freed through-passage bore 59. The sleeve27 is then screwed to the tube 25 again until such time as the O-ring 31butts in a pressure-tight manner against the free end 32 of the tube 25and liquid can thus only pass outward via the wick 17.

[0046] 2. Insertion of the liquid container 19 into the hair-shapingappliance 1:

[0047] The liquid-filled liquid container 19, according to FIG. 1, isinserted into the inner bore 51 of the insulating sleeve 39 with thewick 17 in front, it being necessary to ensure that the stub or stubs 77engages/engage in the guide grooves 75. In this position, the liquidcontainer 19 is not initially rotatable. The liquid container 19 is thenpushed into the insulating sleeve 39 to the extent where the stub orstubs 77 strikes/strike against the ramp or ramps 79. Upon furtherdisplacement of the liquid container 19 in the direction X, saidcontainer is then automatically rotated counter to the direction ofrotation U by the stubs 77 sliding up the ramp 79. When the liquidcontainer 19 is pushed into the insulating sleeve 39, first of all theend surface 34 of the sleeve 27 strikes against the end surface 34 ofthe sealing ring 35 and, upon further displacement of the liquidcontainer 19 in the direction X, the sealing ring 35 is then carriedalong to the right and the compression spring 37 is prestressed in theprocess. It should be noted, at this stage, that two bayonet closures 74may be formed diametrically opposite one another, for better centeringof the liquid container 19, in the insulating sleeve 39.

[0048] Once the liquid container 19, then, has been rotated to asufficient extent, and the compression spring 37 has also beenprestressed to a correspondingly high level, the manual force acting onthe liquid container 19 can then decrease to the extent where the forceof the compression spring 37 displaces the liquid container 19 counterto the direction X again until the stub 77 engages behind the blockingprotuberance 82 and strikes against the stop surface 81 in the process.The position of the liquid container 19 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 hasbeen reached and the hair-shaping appliance 1 is then ready foroperation.

[0049] 3. Operation of the hair-shaping appliance according to theinvention during the discharge of steam:

[0050] Once a valve device, which is not illustrated in the drawing, hasbeen rotated into its open position by hand, gas flows into the catalyst8 and it is likewise possible, via a further ignition button (notillustrated in the drawing), for the ignition device (which is notillustrated either) to be ignited. On account of an explosion, first ofall the ignition filaments 9 achieve their operating temperature, i.e.they begin to ignite by the flame-free combustion. This high temperatureis then transmitted to the catalyst 8, which is activated in this way.

[0051] The evaporator plate 4 is then heated until the control rod 10cuts back the gas feed. The desired operating temperature at theevaporator plate 4 is then automatically controlled by the control rod10 by virtue of the valve device being opened and closed. The heat ofthe catalyst which is produced in the combustion chamber (7) alsopenetrates, via the openings 6 (FIGS. 2 and 4), into the common chamber87 formed between the evaporator plate 4 and the bore 42 of the drum 3,with the result that the bore 42, and thus the drum 3, is also heated.According to the invention, the common chamber 87 combines thecombustion chamber 7 with the steam distributor chamber 91. Thecombustion gases produced in the catalyst 8 are likewise delivered, viathe openings 6, into the common chamber 87 and, from there, to theoutside via the through-passages 2. This operation takes place untilsuch time as the hair-shaping appliance is sufficiently hot.

[0052] A user can then pick up the hair-shaping appliance 1 via itshandle, which is not illustrated in the drawing but is formed on theright-hand side of the hair-shaping appliance 1 according to FIGS. 1 to4, and move it toward his/her head, the clamp 67 first of all beingpivoted open and hair being positioned in the resulting gap 73, it thenbeing possible for said hair to be wound around the outer lateralsurface 66 of the drum 3.

[0053] A user can then use a finger of his/her other hand (notillustrated) to press on the base 60 of the dosing device 26 until suchtime as the liquid container 19 is displaced in the direction X counterto the force of the compression spring 37. In this actuating position,the base 60 of the diaphragm hardly deforms at all since the deformationforce which is necessary for deforming the base 60 is greater than theforce which is necessary for compressing the compression spring 37. Thismeans that first of all the liquid container 19 is displaced in thedirection X, counter to the compressive force of the compression spring37, until such time as the stub 77 strikes against the boundary surface86 of the recess 78, as can clearly be seen in FIG. 4 in particular.

[0054] If force then continues to be applied to the base 60 of thedosing device 26, the base 60 deforms into the through-passage bore 59of the tube 25, although this is not illustrated in the drawing. Withthis deformation of the base 60, the liquid located in the liquidcontainer 19 is then forced through the wick 17, with the result thatliquid in the form of droplets (not illustrated) passes out at the freeend 20. Since there is only a very small distance b between the free end20 of the wick 17 and the evaporator surface 16 in this position (FIG.3)—said distance being approximately 1 to 5 mm—the droplet comes intocontact with the evaporator surface 16, and can thus evaporate, beforeit can drop off. If the base 60 is pressed firmly enough for a pluralityof liquid droplets to pass out at the free end 20 of the wick 17, thenthe evaporator chamber 14 is filled to a greater or lesser extent withliquid. The liquid can then partially or wholly evaporate, provided thatpressure continues to be applied to the base 60 of the dosing device 26.

[0055] The steam formed in the evaporator chamber 14, according to FIGS.1 and 3, is then guided into the annular chamber 53, from where itpenetrates the annular felt element 47. Water droplets are restrained bythe felt element or wick 47. It is also the case that steam and watercannot pass into the annular space 55, which is open to the atmosphere,since the sealing ring 35 is sealed in relation to the inner bore 51 andthe sleeve 27. Once the steam has penetrated the felt element 47, itpasses into the steam-distributor chamber 91 and thus, according to theinvention, also into the common chamber 87, is heated up there again andleaves the through-passages 2 in the outward direction together with thecombustion gases. This steam penetrates into a user's hair, heats thehair and, at the same time, wets it in order that it can be shaped tobetter effect.

[0056] As soon as the pressure on the base 60 of the dosing device 26decreases, and said pressure is then smaller than the force applied bythe compression spring 37, the liquid container 19 is displaced to theleft, counter to the direction X, until, in turn, the stub 77 strikesagainst the stop surface 81. When the force is removed from the base 60,the base deforms again into the starting position illustrated in FIGS. 1to 4, that is to say a negative pressure is produced in the chamber 24of the liquid container 19 and ensures that the excess liquid in thewick 17 and/or in the evaporator chamber 14, that is to say liquid whichhas not yet been converted into steam, is sucked back into the chamber24 via the wick 17. This avoids any more liquid being evaporated than isdesired by a user.

[0057] This is because, via the actuation of the base 60 of the dosingdevice 26, it is very difficult to meter the precise quantity of waterwhich is to be evaporated in the evaporator chamber 14. For this reason,it is possible, if too much liquid has passed into the evaporatorchamber 14, for example, on account of excessively pronounced actuationof the base 60 and/or of the dosing device 26, for said liquid to besucked back abruptly into the chamber 24 of the liquid container 19again via the wick 17. In this case, the steam delivery is adjusted inan abrupt manner. This produces a hair-shaping appliance 1 with veryeconomical water consumption for producing steam.

[0058] It is also the case that it is no longer possible when thehair-shaping appliance 1 is not in use, that is to say when thehair-shaping appliance 1 is not used for a relatively long period oftime, for the liquid which is still located in the chamber 24 of theliquid container 19 to run out of the latter and pass out asnon-evaporated water at the through-passages 2 or even to be able topass to the catalyst 8 via the openings 6. This is because the latterpossibility would render the next ignition operation difficult, or wouldeven make it impossible to activate the catalyst 8, because, for thispurpose, an excessively high level of ignition energy would be necessaryin order first of all to drive the liquid out of the catalyst 8.

[0059] According to the invention, it is thus not possible for theliquid to run out of the liquid container 19 because the dosing device26 closes the liquid container 19 with sealing action and liquid canonly run out via the wick 17 when the dosing device 26 is actuated andat the same time, during the return stroke, air flows into the liquidcontainer 19 via the wick 17. Since, however, the wick 17 is dimensionedsuch that, in the pressure-free state, no air can penetrate into thechamber 24 via the same, it is not possible either for any liquid to runout of the liquid container 19 without external action.

[0060] When the liquid tank 19 is displaced, the base 60 is merelysubjected to an axially directed force applied by hand, with the resultthat rotation and thus the possibility of the liquid container 19dropping out of the hair-shaping appliance 1 when the force is releasedare barely possible. The maximum displacement of the liquid container 19is provided by the distance a between the stop surface 81 and theboundary surface 86. This precisely defines the minimum distance bbetween the free end 20 of the wick 17 and the evaporator surface 16(FIG. 3).

[0061] It should also be mentioned that the evaporator surface 16 isprovided with a stub-like elevation 88, of which the average diameter dis smaller than the diameter of the free end 20 of the wick 17 (FIG. 1).Furthermore, the stub-like elevation 88 is also rounded at its free endin order thus for the wick 17 to be subjected to the action of as littleheat as possible. This increases the service life of the wick 17. Thestub-like elevation 88 also advantageously serves to provide the largestpossible evaporator surface 16, by means of which the largest possiblequantity of steam can be produced in a comparatively short period oftime.

[0062] Once a curl (not illustrated) has been sufficiently subjected tothe action of steam and heat, and has thus achieved a comparativelystable form, the clamp 67 can be opened by hand again and the curledsections of hair can be removed from the hair-shaping appliance. Theoperation can then be repeated on further sections of hair.

1. A hair-shaping appliance (1), in particular steam styling tongs,having a tubular drum (3) which treats the hair and is provided withthrough-passages (2), having a dosing device (26), upon the actuation ofwhich liquid passes out of an outlet (18) of a liquid container (19) viaa liquid-channeling device (17), and having an evaporating device (13)which is supplied with heat by a heating device (12) and comprises anevaporator surface (16) which is in thermal contact with the heatingdevice (12) and on which liquid which has passed out evaporates intosteam, which then passes into a steam-distributor chamber (91) and,there, passes outward via the through-passages (2), the heating device(12) being formed in a combustion chamber (7) of the drum (3), in which,during the heating operation, flame-free combustion of a gas takes placeby means of a catalyst (8), of which the combustion gases pass out viaoutlets (2) formed in the drum (3) and/or in the combustion chamber (7),characterized in that the combustion chamber (7) and thesteam-distributor chamber (91) are formed by a common chamber (87), andin that means (26, 17) which prevent water penetrating into the commonchamber (87) are provided.
 2. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the common chamber (87) is bounded on theoutside by the drum (3) which, for its part, is provided with outletholes which form both the through-passages (2) and the outlets.
 3. Thehair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that themeans (26, 17) are designed such that, as a result of the actuation ofthe dosing device (26), excess liquid which may be present in theevaporator chamber (14), before the next actuation of the dosing device(26) in each case, to remove from the evaporator chamber (14) again andto convey back into the liquid container (19).
 4. The hair-shapingappliance as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the means (26,17) comprise the dosing device (26) and the liquid-channeling device(17), in that the dosing device (26) comprises, on the one hand, apressure/suction pump operating in accordance with the displacementprinciple and, on the other hand, the liquid container (19), which canonly be brought into connection with the atmosphere via its outlet (18),with the result that during the return stroke of the pressure/suctionpump (26) excess liquid flows back into the liquid container (19) again,in reverse, via the liquid-channeling device (17).
 5. The hair-shapingappliance as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the evaporatingdevice (13) comprises an evaporator surface (16) which is locatedopposite the outlet (18), and in that the evaporator surface (16) ispart of an evaporator chamber (14) which receives and discharges theliquid.
 6. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that the liquid-channeling device (17) comprises a wick(17) which is fastened in the outlet (18) and of which the free end (20)terminates at a small distance in front of the evaporator surface (16)when liquid is discharged or received.
 7. The hair-shaping appliance asclaimed in claim 4, characterized in that the wick (17) can transportboth water and air in both directions of flow.
 8. The hair-shapingappliance as claimed in claims 5 and 7, characterized in that the freeend (23) of the wick (17) projects into the liquid container (19). 9.The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claims 5 and 7, characterizedin that, for discharging liquid, the free end (20) of the wick (17) isonly spaced apart from the evaporator surface (16) by the extent (b)such that the quantity of liquid discharged during actuation of thepressure/suction pump (26) is sufficient in order to form a dropletlarge enough, at the free end (20) of the wick (17), to produce contactwith the evaporator surface (16).
 10. The hair-shaping appliance asclaimed in claim 4, characterized in that the dosing device (26) and thechamber (24) of the liquid container (19) form a piston/cylinderarrangement.
 11. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that the dosing device (26) comprises an elasticallydeformable wall (60) which forms part of the liquid container (19). 12.The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 11, characterized in thatthe liquid container (19) can be displaced in the axial longitudinaldirection of the hair-shaping appliance (1), counter to the force of acompression spring (37), in an insulating sleeve (39) fastened in thedrum (3), in that the outlet (18) with its liquid-channeling device (17)is formed at that end of the liquid container (19) which is locatedopposite the evaporator surface (16), and the deformable wall (60) isformed at the other, remote end of the liquid container (19), and inthat a marked deformation of the elastically deformable wall (60) isonly possible when the liquid container (19), once displaced, movesagainst a stop (86).
 13. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim12, characterized in that the elastically deformable wall (60) isarranged in a removable manner on the housing of the liquid container(19).
 14. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 12,characterized in that at least one stub (77) projects on the outersurface (54) of the liquid container (19) and, following the insertionof the liquid container (19), engages in a bayonet-like manner behind arecess (78) formed on the insulating sleeve (39), and in that the recess(78) is adjoined by a gap (85) which runs in the longitudinal directionof the insulating sleeve (39) and allows further displacement of theliquid container (19) in the direction of the evaporator surface (16).15. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 12, characterized inthat the base (27, 17) of the liquid container (19) is formed by asleeve (27) provided with the outlet (18), in that the liquid-channelingdevice (17) is fastened in the outlet (18) and projects out of thesleeve (27), and in that the sleeve (27) is fastened releasably on atube (25) of the liquid container (19) by means of a second releasableconnection (28), preferably a bayonet closure or thread (28).
 16. Thehair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 15, characterized in thatformed on the outer wall of the sleeve (27) is a stop (34) on which thecompression spring (37) is supported on one side, and in that formed onthe inner wall of the insulating sleeve (39) is a base (38) on which theother side of the compression spring (37) is supported.
 17. Thehair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 16, characterized in thatmounted on the external diameter of the compression spring (37) is asealing ring (35), of which one end butts with sealing action against anend surface (34) of the sleeve (27) and the other end butts with sealingand sliding action against the inner wall of the insulating sleeve (39).18. The hair-shaping appliance as claimed in claim 17, characterized inthat the insulating sleeve (39) is introduced into the drum (3) to suchan extent that a steam-permeable ring, preferably a felt element (47),is clamped in between the free end of the insulating sleeve (39) and theend side (48) of an evaporator chamber (14) formed by the evaporatorplate (4), with the result that the steam produced in the evaporatorchamber (14) can only pass into the common chamber (87) via thesteam-permeable ring (47).